New Year’s Resolutions for a Better World

 As Year 2010 winds down, and Year 2011 approaches, thoughts turn to the New Year’s Resolutions for the coming year.  While reviewing last year’s list, you note that many of those resolutions are going to be included on this year’s list, something you’ve done many times in the past.  What’s more, as you look at the list, you notice that many of the goals you had set are all about you:  lose 20 lbs., exercise more, stop smoking or cut down, quit drinking or drink less, work harder, make more money.  This year, why not make some New Year’s Resolutions that you will actually accomplish, that will benefit others more than they will you, and that make you feel good while you work on them?  This year, vow to create a New Year’s Resolutions list of actions and goals that will benefit others more than they do you.  In doing so, you will not only accomplish more of your goals but your actions will have a more positive impact on the world around you. 

Here are a few suggestions to get the ball rolling.

If you are not in a position to adopt a pet, become a foster parent or volunteer with your local animal shelter or one of the many animal rescue groups in your area. Just because you don’t own a pet doesn’t mean you can’t still take care of one or more, or interact with them and those who do. There are many opportunities available to work with animals, no matter what your interest, skill or education level.

Volunteering is a rewarding way to share your talents and/or expertise, your experience and your skills, with others. You can devote as little as you can or as much as you want to helping others through volunteer work. At the end of the day, you will feel better about yourself and what you’ve accomplished to help others, and they will have benefitted from your knowledge. Everyone wins when you make a commitment to give back to your community.

We live in financially challenging times and, while we have seen some improvement in the financial picture of our nation, we have a long ways to go. Even in tough times, or maybe particularly because of such a time, charitable organizations need your charity dollars more than ever. The work of the numerous charity organizations scattered throughout the world continues, without or without sufficient funds to accomplish all they set out to do. Your charitable dollars will keep these organizations going and, in turn, you will be helping others to help themselves. Every donation helps, big or small, so keep those contributions in your own budget.

This is something everyone can and should be doing, with or without a list. Recycle your disposable materials in the proper manner, buy and use earth-friendly products in your home and at work. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. Support your local farming community, if you have one. If not, consider starting a garden of your own. Look into ways to save on gas and electricity, to cut down on television and time spent on the computer. Wear organic clothing and eat organic food whenever possible. As you go through your day, consider the environment and do what you can to protect it. Your actions today will impact not only yourself but others for years to come.

Practicing a “random act of kindness” is a great way to brighten the day of someone else while at the same time making you feel good. Opportunities are everywhere for this one. Whether it’s paying for a cup of coffee for the person behind you in the Starbuck’s line or dropping off a few cans of pet food at your local animal shelter, any unexpected gesture of kindness you extend to someone else will brighten their day as much as it will your own.

There is no shortage of worthwhile causes to which you can lend your support. Whether it is something you believe in for your local community, your state or on a national level, get behind it and do what you can to help make it happen. The difference you make throughout the coming year can make a difference to others for years to come.

The above suggestions are only the beginning of some of the resolutions you can put on your New Year’s Resolutions list this year that will help you create a better world. Why don’t you gather your family and friends together this New Year’s Eve and add some more to the list. Make a commitment to yourselves and to each other that, throughout Year 2011, you will work together on your New Year’s Resolutions to leave the world a better place at the end of 2011 than you found it at the beginning of 2011. Now wouldn’t that be a list of New Year’s Resolutions worth accomplishing? And, if you find yourself carrying the same items over to the next year’s list, who knows? Maybe it will become a tradition – one we all could live with.